Mildly Off Topic - Goat Rental

NaturesApprentice 4/6/2011, 2:31 pm

So, I have a smalll patch on the side of my house (@ 5 foot wide, by about 60 feet) that is overgrown with weeds.

I don't mind the wild growth so much, but I'd like to replace it with wildflowers that are more attractive to the local birds and butterflies.

I'm looking to borrow two goats for a day to munch on the side yard but I haven't been able to find anyone that has this as a business...at least not terribly close, and not at the scale I need (found a guy in LA with 30 goats, but he does stuff for Cal Trans and such and isn't interested in my puny yard).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
NA

FarmerValerie 4/6/2011, 2:42 pm

My husband brought home (bought them actually) 2 goats last week, we expanded the doe was pregnant, to 4. I got a book, cuz I knew nothing about goats. One thing I learned is they are not really good lawn mowers, like sheep. They will pick and eat a few weeds, and some grass, but what they are good for is brush clearing.

I hope you find some to do part of the work, they will fertilize too, but you may still end up tilling anyway.

nancy 4/6/2011, 3:06 pm

Funny you mention that - MSN has an article today about goat-rental for clearing spaces. Perhaps there is a link in the article about where to find them.

Good luck - I think it's a great idea!

Lindacol 4/6/2011, 3:28 pm

NaturesApprentice wrote:So, I have a smalll patch on the side of my house (@ 5 foot wide, by about 60 feet) that is overgrown with weeds.

I don't mind the wild growth so much, but I'd like to replace it with wildflowers that are more attractive to the local birds and butterflies.

I'm looking to borrow two goats for a day to munch on the side yard but I haven't been able to find anyone that has this as a business...at least not terribly close, and not at the scale I need (found a guy in LA with 30 goats, but he does stuff for Cal Trans and such and isn't interested in my puny yard).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
NA

That is a small parcel (5' x60') . Is it fenced so that goats can't get out and dogs can't get in? Is there anything that is poisonus in the area, like oleander? And if right up against your house, they will chew the wood, etc. I have goats but do not loan them out for weed eating. In fact around our house, I pull or cut weeds and take it to them from areas that are close to the house.

Might just be easier to go at it with a weed wacker.

NaturesApprentice 4/6/2011, 8:47 pm

*sigh* Yeah, if Valerie's right, then my plan is a bust anyway. I was thinking they'd chew through the whole thing in a day but it sounds like goats don't work like that.

The plot not right next to the house, there is a small walkway, then a bit of a slope.

A weed wacker would definitely be easier if someone else was using it.

-NA

Old Hippie 4/7/2011, 2:30 am

hmmmmmm......maybe someone has a couple of pigs you could borrow. They would basically rototill the whole thing for you and fertilize it as well.

Gwynn

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Mildly Off Topic - Goat Rental

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